Unsinkable boat



Feb. 21, 1967 A. A. SLAUGHTER v 3,304,905

UNSlNKABLE BOAT Filed May 10, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet l [-III 1 INVENTOR Abe A. Slaughter Feb. 21, 1967 I A. A. SLAUGHTER 3,304,905

UNS INKABLE BOAT Filed May 10, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig.2

IN VENTOR If) v I Abe A. Slaug/rfer I WW 77 V I lll United States Patent Ofitice 3,304,905 UNSINKABLE BOAT Abe A. Slaughter, 1139 Broadway, El Cajon, Calif. 92021 Filed May 10, 1965, Ser. No. 454,600 4 Claims. (Cl. 115-19) fortunately, nearly all of these efforts have been to produce a large passenger ship that would be unsinkable rather than one that can be used as a life boat to be carried on the large ocean liners and the like.

It is, therefore, the main purpose of this invention to provide an unsinkable boat that can be used not only as a life boat on large ocean going liners, but also for personal pleasure on small shallow bodies of water as well as for adaptation as a childs boat where its unsinkable feature would become most attractive to families who have small children.

Another object of this invention is to provide a boat that is unsinkable by reason that its hollow members are filled with cork, or the like.

Another object of this invention is to provide an unsinkable boat that can be powered by any desirable means, such as with an internal combustion engine, sail, hand crank, or oars.

Another object of this invention is to provide an unsinkable boat that even if broken in two different parts, it will still float.

Another object of this invention is to provide an unsinkable boat that can be manufactured at a cost far below any other boat that will not sink when damaged.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an unsinkable boat of the character described in which the passengers are protected in the center section by a large boat supporting drum located at each end of the aforesaid center section.

Other and further objects of this invention will be more fully understood as the description of the invention is read in connection with a study of the appended drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a top view of this invention.

FIGURE 2 is a side view of this invention.

FIGURE 3 is a rear view of this invention.

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view of this invention, taken substantially along line 44 of FIGURE 2, and viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows.

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view of this invention, taken substantially along line 5-5 of FIGURE 1, and viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows.

This new and novel unsinkable boat consists of a pair of hollow floats, one of which is located in the bow or front of the boat, and which is indicated by the reference character in the drawings. The other float, which is located in the stern of the boat, is indicated by the reference character 11. Each of the aforesaid floats consists of a hollow shell 12, having a sperical rear end 13 and a removable front end 14, the latter has the configuration of the frustum of a cone. Each one of the two aforesaid floats 10 and 11 is filled with cork 15, or the like, that will keep that portion of the boat afloat at all times. It should be mentioned here at this time that all of the yet to be described tubular members of this invention are likewise filled with cork for the same purpose, namely, to keep the boat afloat should it ever become involved in a marine accident or the like.

The bow float 10 is located in a tubular framework 16. The float is supported by a tubular shaft 17, extending Patented Feb. 21, 1967 horizontally through the center of the aforesaid float 10, and projecting out beyond each end of the float to terminate in the ball-bearing 18. The stern float 11 is likewise supported in a similar tubular framework that is indicated on the drawing by the same reference characters that have been used to describe this same construction for the bow portion of the boat since both the bow and the stern frameworks are of the same basic configuration. Looking at FIGURES 1 and 2 of the drawings, it will be seen that each one of the aforesaid frameworks 16 embodies a laterally disposed member 19 that is secured to one end of the framework 20 that goes to make up the passenger compartment of this novel boat and in each corner of which is located a box seat 21 in-which food is placed, also drinking water, tools, and the like since this is a Water-tight receptical. The seating arrangement of this boat is subject to changes desired by the owner. While the aforesaid end members 19 of each one of the two tubular frameworks 16 are secured, as has been stated, to the aforesaid framework 20 of this invention. The lower side-tubes 22 of the just mentioned frameworks 16 are likewise secured to the aforesaid framework 20 in order to provide additional support for the float containing and supporting members of this boat that I have invented.

Directing ones attention now to the stern float 11, it will be seen that this float is provided with a helical fin 23 that spirals around the float to which it is bolted in a plurality of sections in order that any one part of the fin may be replaced should it become damaged. The purpose of the aforesaid helical fin 23 is to provide forward motion when the stern float is rotated either manually or by an internal combustion engine. A protective cover 24. In the form of a rigid sheet of material, is secured over the upper half of the aforesaid stern float 11, and is removably secured on each side to one of the longitudinal members of the tubular framework 16. The aforesaid cover 24 is clearly shown in FIGURES 1, 2, and 3 of the drawings.

The aforesaid passenger compartment of this novel boat is provided with a flooring 25 on Which the passengers feet may rest. The flooring-also provides a support for any desired power plant after the flooring has been reinforced on the underside thereof to support this extra weight. The power plant, which normally will be the already mentioned internal combustion engine, will be coupled to the tubular drive shaft 26 that extends through the longitudinal center of the stern float 11. 'A rudder 27 is suitably secured to the lateral center and rearmost portion of this boat as is a similar rudder 28 secured to the bow of the boat. The aforesaid rudders are connected to suitable steering apparatus in the usual manner and for this reason the mechanism is not shown in the drawings as it is admittedly old and no claim is being made for the same. However, it should be understood that the steering of this boat can be done by means of the front rudder alone, and that, in this instance, the back or stern rudder can be fixed or stationary, in which case it serves as a keel.

In closing the description of this unsinkable boat it should be understood that the seats can be made to fold up or down as the case may be and if this is done a water tight separate compartment can be provided for food, tools, radio, and the like. It is to be understood that the passenger compartment is made separately from the supporting members of the two floats to which the passenger compartment is connected to form this complete boat which may be provided with a removable protective covering for the passengers in rainy, cold, or rough weather.

This invention is subject to any and all changes and modifications that may fall within the scope and intent of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. An unsinkable boat comprising two hollow floats in line, one in front of the other, each of which embodies a hollow shell filled with cork and having a spherical rear end and a removable front end having the configuration of a frustum of a cone; and twotubular frameworks that are likewise filled with cork, each said tubular framework encompassing a float and rotatably supporting it; and a passenger compartment likewise made of a tubular framework filled with cork, the said passenger compartment being located between the two ends of the said floats and their supporting frameworks to which the said passenger compartment is secured.

2. The combination of claim 1 in which a rudder is mounted on the front end of the boat and a second rudder is mounted on the rear end of said boat.

3. The combination of claim 2 in which the rotatable support for each float includes a shaft extending longitudinally through the center of the float and a ball bearing connecting each end of each shaft to its tubular framework.

4. The combination of claim 3 in which a helical fin encompasses the stern float, the helical fin embodying a number of separate pieces of rigid material each one of which is separated and secured to the periphery of the stern float and means for rotating said stern float.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 346,211 7/1886 Marty 115-19 2,309,875 2/1943 Thompson 11519 2,388,711 11/1945 Sawyer 115-19 2,477,103 7/ 1949 Vigneault 11519 FOREIGN PATENTS 825,246 11/1937 France.

20 MILTON BUCHLER, Primary Examiner.

ANDREW H. FARRELL, Examiner. 

1. AN UNSINKABLE BOAT COMPRISING TWO HOLLOW FLOATS IN LINE, ONE IN FRONT OF THE OTHER, EACH OF WHICH EMBODIES A HOLLOW SHELL FILLED WITH CORK AND HAVING A SPHERICAL REAR END AND A REMOVABLE FRONT END HAVING THE CONFIGURATION OF A FRUSTUM OF A CONE; AND TWO TUBULAR FRAMEWORKS THAT ARE LIKEWISE FILLED WITH CORK, EACH SAID TUBULAR FRAMEWORK ENCOMPASSING A FLOAT AND ROTABLY SUPPORTING IT; AND A PASSENGER COMPARTMENT LIKEWISE MADE OF A TUBULAR FRAMEWORK FILLED WITH CORK, THE SAID PASSENGER 